World Taekwondo has stripped Russia’s President Vladimir Putin of his honorary black belt following the attack on Ukraine.
World Taekwondo has stripped Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (69) of his honorary black belt following the attack on Ukraine. The brutal action of the Russian government contradicts the vision of the sport: “Peace is more valuable than triumph.”
Therefore, the Seoul-based world federation decided to revoke Putin’s honorary black belt, awarded in 2013. In addition, no official taekwondo competitions are to take place in Russia and Belarus, and flags and anthems of both countries will no longer be presented on the international stage.
On Sunday, the Judo World Federation IJF had revoked Putin’s status as honorary president and ambassador. Putin has been a judo lover since childhood, actively pursued the sport himself and is an 8th dan holder. On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also withdrew Putin’s Olympic Order, which had been awarded to him in 2001.
